Games

The
leisure hours were spent in playing and gambling. The most favourite among the games
for the adults was horse racing. Surprisingly quite a few games of sport developed
any uniform rules or specifications to be organized on a vast scale as inter-tribal games,
save the horse-race and archery. Another important innovation was betting on the
games by participants themselves or by on-lookers. The games of chance which were
prevalent in almost every ancient civilization, were also there in Baloch cultural
traditions. Lots were also cast not only as a favourite game of chance but also for
ending disputes or dividing property. There are scores of references in
folk-literature about people gambling, using their most valuable things at stakes.

Another
phenomenon was that most of the games were not merely meant for sports; there, in fact,
provided a proper training for the individual to shoulder his responsibilities as an
useful member of the tribe. For instance, horse-race and sports resembling polo or
archery provided a sound practical training for young men to participate in tribal wars.
Indoor games included those which required considerable insight and panning
stratagem.